New hutch - everyone seems riled up

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Piggywiggy1975

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Hiya

My new hutch has finally arrived and it is huge :-).

Have been gradually introducing everyone over the course of the last few days in the run on the grass and yesterday they spent the whole day out there without incident. As the new hutch had arrived and obviously didn't have any territorial smells on it I thought it would be good to put them all back in one cage last night. There was much noise and rumblestrutting and arguing over sleeping spots etc but no blood drawn so I left them to settle down.

They were out for floor time today and seemed riled up and nippy with each other but were fine when I put them outside to calm down and were eating all together inside at one point.

I noticed when I was putting them away that Basil (neutered boar) had a small cut on his back which I only felt through his thick hair due a scab forming:-( - should I persevere or separate them all again :-( - thought it could be sorting out heirarchy in new cage but don't want bloodshed :-(

Any advice appreciated thank you x
 
How many guinea pigs do you have and do you have just the one male living with females?

If so, I would leave them altogether for now keeping a close eye on them as it sounds like they are sorting out the hierarchy in their new home.

Observed and make sure Basil isn't being bullied / kept away from the food etc. until things settle down, remove any hides, especially ones with just the one enterance.

Are you sure the scab is from a bite? It could be the beginning of a fungal infection. The link can be found on the guinea pig Lynx website (sorry, I am using my phone so can't post a link)

Or it could be the result of a little nip from one of the other piggies. Again, just keep a close watch for now.
 
Hi thank you for the reply - there is one neutered boar and four sows - they have loads of room in the new hutch - I will remove the hides as most of the noise seems to take place round these - they have two water bottles and lots of bowls so I'm hoping they are all getting to the food but will keep a close eye - basil sometimes forgets to eat as he spends a lot of time rumblestrutting and showing off to the girls :-) - hopefully this will subside soon

Thanks again
 
They're all eating breakfast happily together albeit a bit warily :-) so fingers crossed the mini herd bonding will be a success
 
That's good :) fingers crossed things start to settle down over the next few days but its a good sign they are all eating together.

It very much sounds like normal dominant behaviour to me whilst they sort out the hierarchy.

I have a neutered boar and 3 sows. I know just what you mean regarding the rumblestrutting and showing off ;)
 
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